Coastal back in rugby league competition

Will Johnston 

Photo: Coastal Cobras' Rawiri Naniseni runs with the ball in 2017.

Coastal Cobras return to Taranaki's premier rugby league competition after the side was an omission in last year’s campaign.  

But as Coastal enters, Western Suburbs has been a late withdrawal from the competition because of numbers, keeping the teams to five when it starts on Saturday.  

Coastal joins Patea Warriors, Waitara Bears, Bell Block Marist Dragons and defending champions Hawera Hawks as the five teams to compete for the title. There were hopes an event number of teams would prevent a bye in each round.  

Coastal club chair Shamare James said a young group of players took it upon themselves to ensure a team was entered.  

“It means a lot to the Cobra whanau (family) and gives our kids on the coast, who have kept the club alive, something to aspire to,” he said.   

“With a young team, we can now start rebuilding for the future while really going hard this season.”  

Coastal won’t be taking any team lightly and will give all clubs the respect they deserve, James said.  

The majority of Coastal’s home matches will be played at the Opunake Recreation Ground, but its second home game will be at the Okato Domain because of booking clashes.  

Competition organiser Allana Prestney was hoping to have six teams back in the competition but is overall happy with the registrations.  

“Numbers at trainings for most clubs have been great and the players seem excited to be able to again play rugby league.”  

She said having the competition played earlier in the year suits the league community. 

The format will include five competition weeks, semi-finals will be played on Saturday, March 18 and the final a week later.  

In March last year, the competition was postponed after three weeks because of growing Covid-19 cases among clubs. The remaining rounds were played in July and Prestney is hoping for a nondisruptive season.  

The repeat of last year’s final between Hawera and Patea will be played on the opening weekend at the Patea Domain. Hawera won the final 20-16 in a thriller at Hicks Park last year.  

The under 16 competition features three teams – Waitara, Bell Block Marist and South Combined. The under 16 matches kick off prior to the premier matches at 12:30pm during each round.  

Prestney said a junior competition will start in April. 

Taranaki premier rugby league, round 1, 2pm: 
Patea v Hawera, Patea Domain 
Coastal v Bell Block, Opunake Domain 
Waitara Bears bye 

Taranaki U16 rugby league, round 1, 12:30pm: 
Waitara v South Combined, Clifton Park 
Bell Block bye